GUNS, ammo and drugs were found in a police raid on a flat. Officers stormed the property, in Symphony Court, Bensham, Gateshead, as part of a probe into organised crime in the region.

They discovered a hand gun and a blank-firing pistol, along with blank-firing ammunition.

A quantity of white powder, believed to be cocaine, was seized, as was a small amount of cannabis bush and resin and more than £4,000 in cash.

The operation was carried out over the weekend by Northumbria Police’s Total Policing Task Force.

Det Supt Peter Farrell said: “Organised crime groups will involve themselves in any activity where they think they can make money.

“Northumbria Police want all organised criminals to know that the risk of us acting against them has significantly increased, right through the spectrum from those who think they’re untouchable to those operating at the lower end of organised crime.

“We will continue to target them to disrupt their ability to carry out their illegal operations.”

A 42-year-old man, from Bensham, has been arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine.

The raid is the latest success for the Task Force, which was set up in June by Northumbria Police to combat all forms of organised crime in the area.

It was launched by Det Chief Supt Neil Adamson, as the unit carried out a series of raids on people suspected of using social networking sites to co-ordinate car crime. Since then, other high-profile operations have included the smashing of a £4m drugs operation.

Officers stormed dozens of addresses and arrested more than 30 people.

That was followed by the arrest of 10 people in London in connection with the alleged conspiracy, which saw properties rented out and lucrative hash factories set up inside.

Another success came when officers raided homes in Coltsfoot Gardens, Gateshead, and businesses at Reay Street, Bill Quay and Heworth Way, Pelaw, all Gateshead, where they recovered around £500,000 of drugs, along with Rolex watches and a plasma-screen television. Four arrests were made.

And earlier this month, they teamed up with HM Revenue & Customs to raid the Callerton Garden Centre, Newcastle, as part of a three-day blitz.

HMRC officers tested 18 suspect vehicles and found nine running on illegal red diesel, two of which had been fitted with false petrol tanks in an attempt to avoid being caught.

Police also recovered a CS canister concealed in a fountain pen and discovered £3,000 cash hidden in a Wellington boot.

A day earlier, the task force executed three warrants at addresses in Newburn and Throckley and seized a quantity of amphetamine and around £5,500 cash. In a separate raid on Newcastle’s Newbiggin Hall estate, they recovered £30,000.